Following a worrying trend on social media, dental health professionals are warning about the emergence of unlicensed “veneer technicians” on social media platforms.
About 1 in 5 American adults turn to TikTok before their doctor when seeking health advice, according to a survey by prescription drug company CharityRx. Do-it-yourself (DIY) dentistry has garnered millions of views on social media as users search for at-home hacks and quick fixes to improve the appearance of their pearly whites.
One of those quick fixes involves dental veneers, custom-made, thin coverings applied to the front of teeth to hide imperfections like chips or discoloration, as unlicensed people appear to advertise low-cost veneer services on platforms like Instagram and TikTok .
These self-proclaimed “veneer technicians” promise perfect teeth at a fraction of the cost of licensed dentists, but the risk may outweigh the savings, as the American Dental Association (ADA) has recently increased its warnings about the risks. of veneers performed by unlicensed persons.
“Quality control is lost without the involvement of a licensed dentist,” said Dr. Ada Cooper, a New York-based dentist and spokeswoman for the ADA, according to the Associated Press. “We undergo years of education and training and must be licensed by various regulatory bodies before we can practice.”
Newsweek ODA has been contacted by email for comment.
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Unlike crowns or implants, veneers are cosmetic and generally not covered by insurance. Licensed dentists typically charge between $1,000 and $2,000 per tooth, depending on the material used. But the process is irreversible, as dentists must remove some enamel from teeth before veneers can be attached, and they usually only last five to 15 years.
If not performed correctly, veneer procedures can lead to serious consequences, including nerve damage, infections, and even tooth loss.
According to Dr. Zach Truman, an orthodontist in Las Vegas who also spoke to the AP, unlicensed practitioners often skip critical steps like properly administering anesthesia, leaving patients in agony. There is also the risk of veneers being placed over untreated dental problems, such as cavities, which can worsen under the veneer and lead to tooth loss.
“If you put a veneer on a tooth that has an active cavity, you’re just going to seal it in there and eventually it will progress to tooth loss,” Truman said.
The warning comes as authorities in Georgia on Thursday arrested Brandon Diller, who had amassed more than 150,000 followers on Instagram by promoting himself as “Atlanta’s top veneer expert and instructor.”
According to an arrest warrant from the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, Diller practiced dentistry without a license and sold “training and certifications, which were worthless” and “did not provide legal or legitimate credentials.”
